WHY YOU CAN’T GET A TICKET: Cass Tech - King Essentially Sold Out Ahead of Massive Detroit Showdown

DETROIT — If you were planning to walk up to Cass Tech on Friday and buy a ticket to one of the biggest high school football games in Michigan, you’re out of luck.

There won’t be any.

Detroit Public Schools Community District has announced that no general-admission tickets will be sold for Friday’s highly anticipated showdown between unbeaten Cass Tech and Detroit King.

The Technicians and Crusaders will meet Friday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. at Cass Technical High School, but attendance will be restricted to people directly associated with the two schools.

That includes current students, participating student-athletes’ families, bands and cheer teams, school families and alumni. No tickets will be sold to the general public or at the gate. Credentialed media and college coaches will be permitted to attend.

DPSCD described the game as “essentially” sold out because of the extraordinary demand for tickets.

And there’s a reason the district is taking extra precautions.

Last year’s game changed things

The 2025 Cass Tech–King matchup was played at Wayne State’s Tom Adams Field, a venue capable of holding nearly 6,500 spectators.

Even that wasn’t enough to avoid problems.

The game was suspended amid safety concerns after people reportedly jumped fences and the stadium became overcrowded. The matchup was ultimately completed the following day at King with attendance limited to families, with Cass Tech earning a 27–22 victory.

For the 2026–27 school year, DPSCD introduced a new ticketing policy designed in part to better manage attendance at high-profile athletic events.

For major games involving two district schools, 60 percent of stadium capacity is reserved for students from the participating schools, with the majority allocated to the home team. The district also moved to a new mobile ticketing system.

Friday will provide one of the biggest tests yet of that policy.

And this isn’t an ordinary game

The demand shouldn’t be surprising.

Cass Tech and King aren’t simply rivals. They’re two of the most recognizable high school football programs in Detroit, and both enter Friday undefeated at 4–0.

Cass Tech has been dominant through four games, outscoring opponents 208–21 while recording three shutouts.

King has been impressive in its own right, including a dramatic 44–42 overtime victory over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s followed by consecutive blowout victories over Renaissance and Ford.

Now they meet with city bragging rights, rankings and championship aspirations hanging over one of the most anticipated games on Detroit’s high school football calendar.

The atmosphere inside Cass Tech should be electric.

It will just be much harder to get inside.

For everyone else, DPSCD has announced that the game will be streamed live on YouTube.

Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 25 — 5 p.m.
Location: Cass Technical High School
Matchup: Detroit King (4–0) at Cass Tech (4–0)
Public ticket sales: None